Hello everyone.

I'm J.D. from Lakewood, CA (for the time being). I'm currently an SBB student in the American Red Cross Southern California Region program.

I was introduced to the blood bank as a military lab tech 11 years ago. After schooling, I didn't care what section of the lab I went to as long as it wasn't blood bank or a donor center. I was summarily assigned to a post where I would rotate between the blood bank and donor center. Luckily the operation was run by a fantastic pathologist with a passion for teaching who promptly changed my tune, and at this point I'd never go to any other section of the lab. I made sure of it by obtaining BB(ASCP) certification rather than a generalist license (although that didn't stop a former employer from rotating me through the STAT Lab regularly).

I have looked back on occasion - I spent a little over a year working toward a PhD in biochemistry, but the prospect of working 16 hour days for the next 10 years as a graduate student and post-doc, as well as a completely dismal funding environment (I went through 3 advisors due to grant-maintenance issues before quitting) led me to change my mind about what I want to do when I grow up. I also tried a short stint in a University veterinary microbiology lab, but it wasn't for me, either. I missed the blood bank too much, so I went back. So, I've now hit the point in my career that it's time to take the next step and go for the SBB, and here I am.

You can probably tell from this post that I tend to be long winded, and for that I'll apologize in advance for all my (hopefully) future posts. This is a really great forum and I hope to learn a lot from participating.

Cheers,

JD

I was introduced to the blood bank as a military lab tech 11 years ago. After schooling, I didn't care what section of the lab I went to as long as it wasn't blood bank or a donor center. I was summarily assigned to a post where I would rotate between the blood bank and donor center.

It's so funny the way that works in the military. I experienced something markedly similar. I was intimidated by the idea of working in the blood bank/donor center from the very beginning so that's of course where they put me. I specifically remember the SSG at my first duty station mentioning during my in-processing that army lab techs who work in this section will generally get stuck in it during their career, that it actually used to be an identifier, and it turned out he was right. I worked in blood bank or donor center for all 8 years at every duty station, even during my deployments. (I got to be involved with the first in-theatre apheresis operation, which was pretty nifty for me.)

Welcome to the forums and good luck with your job search.

Interesting background story, tubeshaker. As goodchild said, "It's funny how things work out sometimes." Glad you are here now!

Tubeshaker,

You will love this forum, welcome.

Welcome,

we look forward to your posts

Cheers

Eoin

I have been under the impression that the military deliberately assigns people where they do not want to be. I think it is part of their character building program!

Welcome to BBT JD.